NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Blue Jackets vs Sharks (Saturday, February 17)
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images. Pictured: Elvis Merzlikins #90 of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets vs. Sharks Odds
| Blue Jackets Odds | -152 |
| Sharks Odds | +126 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 +100o / -122u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Columbus Blue Jackets vs. San Jose Sharks showdown on Saturday, February 17, featuring our expert NHL prediction and pick.
These two teams have combined for eight or more total goals scored in each of their previous two meetings. Will we see another high-scoring affair?
Let's dig into the NHL odds and make a Blue Jackets vs. Sharks prediction.
You can't talk about poor defensive teams in this league without mentioning Columbus. This season, the Blue Jackets rank 26th or lower in goals allowed per game, shots on goal allowed per game and penalty kill percentage.
The Jackets' biggest flaw is their inability to limit the opposition's high-danger scoring chances. At 5-on-5, they rank 29th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
Backing up this group is goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, who has struggled to deal with the product in front of him. Merzlikins has now allowed three or more goals in five of his past six starts, posting a .893 SV% and 3.11 GAA over that stretch.
These woes are likely to continue against San Jose, a team that he is 1-3 against in his career with a .894 SV% and 3.35 GAA.
While the Blue Jackets have struggled defensively, that is nothing compared to the woes the Sharks have had in their own end. Entering this matchup, San Jose ranks last in goals allowed per game and shots on goal allowed per game.
Special teams has also been problematic, ranking 20th in penalty minutes taken per game and 30th in penalty kill percentage. Its underlying metrics are exactly what you would expect, ranking last in xGA/60 at 5-on-5.
Subsequently, goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood has been put into an impossible situation trying to defend the cage for this group. Through 33 appearances in the crease this season, Blackwood is 9-17-3 with an .899 SV% and 3.49 GAA.
He surrendered four goals his last time out against Columbus en route to a 4-3 loss.
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Blue Jackets vs. Sharks
Betting Pick & Prediction
The reason we are catching plus-money on this Over is that, while both defenses and goaltenders are poor, both offenses are also terrible. This should not be surprising for two last-place teams.
However, I would argue that the combination of blue-line play and goaltending in this matchup is worse than the offenses. This season, both teams rank higher in goals scored per game than they do in goals allowed per game.
Both teams also rank higher at 5-on-5 in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) than they do in xGA/60. I like this play at plus-money and would take it up to -105.
Pick: Over 6.5 (+100 at DraftKings | Play to -105)
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